Software : LibreOffice takes to the cloud to challenge Google Docs |
- LibreOffice takes to the cloud to challenge Google Docs
- Microsoft gives universal apps new Windows branding
- In Depth: 5 apps to download for Facebook Messenger
| LibreOffice takes to the cloud to challenge Google Docs Posted:  LibreOffice has announced plans to unveil an online version of its popular and free productivity suite, likely in a nod to Google Docs and Office Online. First reported by InfoWorld, Collabora (one of the contributors to the LibreOffice project) has signed a partnership with IceWarp to construct a web based version dubbed LibreOffice Online that will be released by the end of 2015. It will bring major improvement including the complete cross-compatibility with the offline version of LibreOffice and the ability for users to simultaneously edit documents alongside others in the same way that Google Docs, Office Online and a range of other cloud applications. It also claims that documents will not lose any features or data no matter how many times they're exported between the offline and online versions of LibreOffice. Collabora thinks it can achieve this "by using the same rendering engine as LibreOffice desktop (via LibreOfficeKit)". In basic terms it means reusing the original LibreOffice C++ source code. LibreOffice Online won't come fully featured set right off-the-bat. Instead, it will be closer to LibreOffice Editor for Android, which offers a smaller a subset of the features available in desktop versions. There's no time frame on when new features will be added, however, simultaneous editing is expected to be built-in from the start. What will it cost?When it comes to price of the new solution, IceWarp's senior marketing associate Michael Filip stated that "IceWarp will be able to offer a highly cost-effective alternative to Office 365 or Google Apps." Google Docs is of course free, whereas Office 365 Personal runs at £5.99 ($6.99, or AU$9.00) per month for a single user account that includes 1TB of cloud storage. LibreOffice Online is expected to fall in between these two offerings |
| Microsoft gives universal apps new Windows branding Posted:  To reduce compatibility questions, Microsoft has a new name for universal apps that will work across multiple screen sizes: Windows apps. Windows apps will work on Windows 10 laptops, tablets, desktops, phones, IoT and Xbox. "In Windows 10, we have this notion of a universal app platform," Microsoft engineer Don Box said in a session at WinHEC 2015. "And the apps that target it are called Windows apps. Sometimes we say universal apps, but we call them Windows apps." Box goes on to detail that Windows app can run "on every device family: phone, PCs, Xbox, IoT, and other devices like HoloLens." With Windows apps, Microsoft is changing the branding of its universal apps away from Modern apps and Metro apps that are found on Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. By calling universal apps Windows apps, Microsoft appears to be moving to a centralized Windows 10 branding. Legacy appsAdditionally, Windows 10 PCs will continue to support legacy Win32 apps. Those apps will not be called Windows apps as they won't work on Windows 10 for phones, for example. These legacy Win32 apps will be called Windows desktop apps. "On PCs, we continue to support the two decades-plus worth of Windows desktop applications…for running them on PCs," Box said. "So sometimes we will talk about a Windows app [what we have been calling universal apps to date] and Windows desktop apps. Windows apps run on all devices. Windows desktop apps [are] PC only." Aside from branding, Microsoft's strategy with desktop apps and Windows apps has not changed. "Microsoft expects developers to create new Windows apps, not new Windows desktop applications," Paul Thurrott wrote on his site. "And it has improved the Windows universal app platform - which is really just a refinement of Metro...to make it more powerful and capable."
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| In Depth: 5 apps to download for Facebook Messenger Posted:  Love it or hate it, Facebook just released new features for its Messenger app and is now dubbing it the Messenger Platform. With the new platform, developers can make apps that utilize GIFs, photos, videos, audio clips and whatever else they think makes communicating more expressive and creative for Android and iOS devices. There are 40 apps and counting you can download right now to use with Messenger that have "optimized flow" - which just means they'll show up directly inside the Facebook app and can be found via the More tab (the three dots found on the bottom right of the app). If you don't already have the app installed, you'll have to head over to the app store and download it. Facebook has made the process easier by allowing direct downloads through Messenger - if your friend is using Giphy and you want it too, there will be a "Reply" link in your message giving you the option to install it or simply quickly respond with the app. Not all the apps will have this feature though. Facebook will be screening every submitted app to approve it for the Reply links and the More button. You won't be able to use all the apps with Messenger immediately but the update should start rolling out today. There are also apps that are only available on iPhone 5, iPhone 6 or the iPhone 6 Plus. Most Android devices with 4.0 and up should work. In the meantime, here are five apps we've enjoyed so far that are completely ready for Facebook Messenger Platform. UltratextUltratext is a pretty fun way to send text messages in GIF form but all the really cool stuff requires spending a few bucks here and there. GiphyDemoed during the F8 (Facebook Developer's Conference), Giphy is bringing everyone's favorite GIFs to Messenger. Pick your favorite GIF then hit the share button to send it off to your friends. So far, it doesn't seem like this app is widely available yet. StickeredWant to replace your face with a sticker? Then use Stickered in Messenger for another way to send photos. It already has some familiar stickers found on Facebook and it's completely free. The only downside? Pusheen cat is nowhere to be found. EmuIt seems Facebook loves stickers. Emu is another sticker app that's ready for Messenger right now. Take a selfie of yourself and go nuts decorating with the various packs the app offers before sending it to all your friends. PingTankPlacing your images with animated overlays - basically another GIF app - is what PingTank promises to do. Other apps on the list seem to do a slightly better job, but the Messenger integration hasn't shown up when we tried to use them. |
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